Track system for toy vehicles

ABSTRACT

A track system comprising a track section and track section connector where the track section is substantially wider than the vehicles which move along its running surface in a racing manner. The connector is partially divided into three parts and includes alignment flanges so as to align and join abutting track sections; alignment includes maintaining a substantially level running surface and smooth adjoining track section guide flanges which act as retaining walls.

nited States Patent 91 Yamasaki et al.

1 1 Jan. 23, 1973 1 TRACK SYSTEM FOR TOY VEHICLES 3,480,210 1l/l969 Perrinjaquet ..238/10 E 3 558 048 1/1971 Bach [75] Inventors: TOShlO Yamasakl, Gardena; John S.

Cook Sunnyvale; William A. Smats, 2,862,333 12/1958 Gardiol ..238/l0 E Torrance an 9 Cahf' Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza [73] Assignee: Mattel, lnc.,'Hawthorne, Calif. Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch [22] Filed, Jan 22 197! Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick [21] Ap'pl. No.: 108,840 [57] ABSTRACT A track system comprising a track section and track [1.8. CI. E, ection connector where the track section is substan 19/30 tially wider than the vehicles which move along its [58] Field of Search ..238/l0 A-lO F; running surface in a racing manner The connector is 46/1 31; 104/60 partially divided into three parts and includes alignment flanges so as to align and join abutting track secl56] References cued tions; alignment includes maintaining a substantially 1 I UNITED'STATES PATENTS level running surface and smooth adjoining track section guide flanges which act as retaining walls. 3,487,999" 1/1970 Nash et al. ..238/1O l,9l 4,53l 6/1933 Rosenthal ..238/l0 E 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures TRACK SYSTEM FOR TOY VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a roadway or track system and, more particularly, to a track system for toy vehicles with the track system having a stiffened and strengthened track section, and a track section connector which aligns, levels, stiffens and joins abutting track sections.

2. Description of the Prior Art Small toy vehicles with freely rotatable wheels have become of late exceedingly popular among youngsters. Usually these toy vehicles, as exemplified by the description in U.S. Pat. No. 3,510.981 to H. W. La Branche et al., are sold with or are intended to be used on a track system, such as that more fully described in US. Pat. No. 3,487,999 to A. W. B. Nash et al. Continuous efforts have been made to devise new components or accessories to make playing with the small toy vehicles more exciting. For example, a number of accessories are now being marketed to increase the enjoyment of playing with the small toy vehicles; some of the more popular accessories include a loop, a 180 curve, a 90 curve, a starting gate, a finish gate, a lap counter, a speedometer and various types of power boosters.

One of the most exciting aspects of toy vehicles is the simulation of automobile racing. This is even more realistically accomplished with the recently marketed self-powered vehicles. The self-powered vehicles have a body shell simulating a racing automobile and include a small electric motor attached directly to the rear wheels with a small rechargeable battery in electrical contact with the motor. A small switch depends from the underside of the automobile and acts to activate the motor. To simulate racing between two of the selfpowered vehicles, a track section must be available which is at least as wide as the width of the two vehicles to allow one to pass another; preferably the track is considerably wider, on a scale approaching that of a real oval raceway relative a real racing car such as the Indianapolis 500 motor speedway or the recently opened Ontario speedway. Generally, track layouts have been restricted to a track width slightly greater than the width of the toy vehicle so that the vehicles can only move in single file. Attempts to make wider tracks hav accentuated problems existing with the narrower track, especially alignment problems. For example, it is necessary that the retaining guide flanges of one track section be aligned with the guide flanges of an abutting track section; and it is necessary that the running surfaces of abutting and adjoining track sections align. To be otherwise will cause a small selfpowered automobile impacting on a misaligned end of a track section to leave the track, turn over or in some other fashion be excluded from racing until reset properly on the track.

It is a corollary with any of the above structures and accessories that they be designed in a fashion to solve the various technical problems presented and also be inexpensively manufactured so that they can be sold at a minimum price to allow mass marketing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a general aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved track section and track section connector and a new and improved track system for a toy vehicle comprising at least one elongated track section including a support portion having a surface over which a toy vehicle may move, oppositely disposed guide flanges extending essentially the length of the track section projecting generally upwardly from the surface, the guide flanges spaced apart a distance greater than twice the width of the toy vehi cle, and depending flanges for strengthening and stiffening the track section and for defining a receptacle for receiving a track section connector for joining two abutting track sections; and a track section connector adapted to be partially received by said receptacle ineluding projecting lateral flanges for engaging the depending flanges of the track section, and two oppositely disposed alignment flanges connected to the lateral flanges for aligning the guide flanges of the track section.

It is a general aim of the present invention to provide a track system having a stiffened, strengthened and inexpensively manufactured track section and an inexpensively manufactured track section connector.

Another pursuit of the present invention is to provide a track system having a connector which tightly joins abutting track sections, aligns the track sections guide flanges and keeps the track sections running surfaces level and aligned.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a track section and a track section connector which are each inexpensively manufactured and which can easily be put together by even a young child.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a track section connector and a portion of a track section.

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 unexploded.

FIG. 3' is an enlarged elevational sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational sectional view taken along line5--5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the track section and track section connector of FIG. 1 shown in their con nected operable position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, an illustrative embodiment is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not the intention to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed; but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a portion of a track section and a track section connector 12. The track section connector 12 connects and aligns abutting track sections so as to allow the formation of a track layout for use with small toy vehicles. As mentioned above, the track layout may include accessories which deviate from a straight track section but which, nevertheless, can be connected into a continuous track layout with the track section connector illustrated.

In accordance with one of the important aspects of the present invention, a track section is provided which is stiffened and strengthened, and yet structured to be inexpensively manufactured. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, the track section includes an elongated support portion 16 having a running surface 18 over which the toy vehicles move. Lateral boundaries are provided by two oppositely disposed guide flanges 20 and 22. The guide flanges project from the running surface 18 in an oblique fashion so as to provide a minimum area of 20 contact should a toy vehicle impact against one of the guide flanges. Positioned on the running surface 18 in parallel alignment are a number of small ridges 24 for providing a barrier to lateral movement of the toy vehicles; that is, movement in a direction toward one or the other of the guide flanges. Thus, the ridges act to bias the toy vehicles in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the track section and parallel to the direction of the guide flanges.

The width of the running surface 18 is approximately four times the width of the toy vehicle contemplated to be used on the track section. This allows sufficient room for one toy vehicle to pass another several toy vehicles to travel abreast one another, and for the toy vehicles to experience lateral movements without creating a blockage of the entire track. The relative dimensions of the track and the contemplated toy vehicle is analogous to the relative dimensions of a real raceway track, such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or the Ontario Motor Speedway to real racing cars. It is to be noted that while one vehicle may pass another, or while an impact of a vehicle may cause some lateral movement of the vehicle across the track, the ridges 24 cause the vehicle to again assume a running direction parallel to the length of the track section.

Depending from the support portion 16 are three pairs of flanges, a first pair formed by the flanges 26 and 28, a second pair by the flanges 30 and 32 and the third pair by the flanges 34 and 36. Each pair of flanges forms with a track section bottom surface 37 a channelshaped receptacle to receive a portion of the track section connector 12, as more fully described hereinbelow. Each of the depending flanges 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 extends the length of the track section and not only provides a receptacle for the track section connector, but also acts to stiffen and strengthen the track section. Also engaging the track section connector are the end portions of the guide flanges 20 and 22. Each of the end portions, end portion 38 of the guide flange 20 and end portion 40 of the guide flange 22 is formed into a U or channel shape as clearly shown in FIG. 2. As with the depending flanges 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36, the guide flanges with their channel-shaped end portions extend the full length of the track section. It is contemplated that the straight track sections will have a uniform cross-section along its entire length to enable its manufacture in a relatively simple and expeditious fashion by an extrusion process when the track section material is of a suitable synthetic resin or other extrudable material. Synthetic resin has been found preferable because of its desirable manufacturing and physical characteristics.

In accordance with another important provision of the present invention, the track section connector is structured so as to very easily manufactured at a relatively inexpensive cost. Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, the track section connector is comprised of a frame portion 50 which integrally connects three sets of laterally extending flanges, the first set including the lateral flanges 52 and 54, the second set including lateral flanges 60 and 62. At each end of the frame portion 50, there is an alignment flange such as alignment flanges 64 and 66. Cooperating with the second set of lateral flanges which is disposed between the first and third set of lateral flanges are lateral flange extensions 68 and 70. The lateral flanges 52 and S4 of the first set are separated by an opening 72 and are connected by beveled bridges 74 and 76. The lateral flange S2 is adapted to be engaged with the depending flange 26 of the track section while the lateral flange 54 is adapted to be engaged with the depending flange 28. In a like manner, the lateral flanges 60 and 62 of the third set are separated by an opening 78 and are connected by beveled bridges 80 and 82. The lateral flange 60 is adapted to be received by the depending flange 34 of the track section while the lateral flange 62 is adapted to be received by the depending flange 36. The first and third set of flanges are each separated by openings 84 and 86 from the alignment flanges 64 and 66, respectively. In addition, there is an opening 88 separating the lateral flange 58 and the lateral flange 60 and an opening 90 separating the lateral flange 54 and the lateral flange 56. Yet, another opening 92 exists between the lateral flanges 56 and 58 of the second set. The lateral flange 56 has two beveled surfaces 94 and 96 while the lateral flange 58 has the beveled surfaces 98 and 100. Further, the lateral flange extension 70 includes two beveled surfaces 102, 104 while the lateral flange extension 68 includes two beveled surfaces 106, 108.

The second set of lateral flanges have longitudinally extending side edges 110, 112 each having a series of small protuberances such as the protuberance 114 of the edge and the protuberance 116 of the edge 112. In addition, the lateral flange extensions 68 and 70 also include small protuberances projecting from the longitudinally extending side edges. It is apparent that the second set of lateral flanges with the lateral flange extensions are received by the channel formed with the depending flanges 30 and 32 of the track section. It is noted that the track may be made of any suitable material, preferably of a synthetic resin, which is easily moldable so that the connector can be made in an integral one-piece mold using a minimum of material. The connector produced has a maximum strength and an optimum ability to join, align and level.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the improved joining and aligning characteristics of the track section and track section connector are illustrated. In FIG. 5, the flange 56 of the second set of flanges and the flanges 68 and 70 of the lateral flange extensions are illustrated in engagement with the depending flange 30 of the track section and a depending flange 30a of an abutting track section 102. It is noted that the protuberances bear against the lower surfaces 37 and 37a of the support portions 16 and 16a, respectively, while the protuberances deform the depending flanges 30 and 30a so that a tight friction-fit joining is made between the two abutting track sections. To insure that the connector is received equally by each of the track sections, depending abutment surfaces project from each lateral flange, such as the abutment surface 101, FIG. 1, of the lateral flange 58 and the abutment surface 103, FIG. 5, of lateral flange 56. Upon inserting the connector into the depending flanges of the track section 10, abutment will occur between the abutment surface 101 and the end surface 105 of the track section so as to limit receipt to about half of the connector. The other half of the connector is received by the track section 10a. Had insertion been made into the track section 10a first, there would have been an abutment between the track. section 100 and the abutment surface 103.

Referring to FIG. 3, the position of the flange 52 of the first set of flanges is illustrated, engaging the depending flanges 26 and 26a of the track sections, respectively, 10 and 10a. In a like fashion, the third set of guide flanges 60 and 62 engage the track section adjacent the guide flange 22 so that as shown in FIG. 2, the running surface 18 is substantially level in a lateral direction; that is, from the guide flange 20 to the guide flange 22.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated the relatively small amount of material used along those portions of the track section connector which are not in engagement with the track sections. For example, ex tending to a level below the depending flanges 30 and 30a is a part of the frame portion 50 of the connector which is integral with bridge portions 130 and 132; these connect the lateral flange extensions and the second set of lateral flanges.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the receipt of the alignment flanges 64 and 66 of the connector are shown within the channel-shaped end portions 38 and 40, respectively, of the guide flanges 20 and 22, respectively. In this manner, the guide flanges of the abutting track sections are kept in alignment for the same reason as that for the running surface 18. Thus, a small vehicle moving along a track layout having track sections and track section connectors, as illustrated, will have a level substantially uninterrupted surface and retaining walls. If the abutting track sections are not aligned, a self-powered vehicle, for example, moving at a high velocity will have its forward movement substantially disturbed, if not stopped, if impact with the misaligned portion occurs. Of course, in a race or even under non-race conditions, this is undesirable.

The track section and track section connector described can be produced relatively inexpensively for mass marketing and may be assembled and disassembled in a quick and easy fashion by even a relatively young child; the present track system results in optimum toy vehicle characteristic while allowing an imaginative child to construct a great variety of track layouts so as to increase his excitement.

We claim:

1. A track system for a toy vehicle comprising:

at least one track section including a support portion having a surface over which a toy vehicle may move, oppositely disposed guide flanges extending essentially the length of the track section projecting generally upwardly from said surface, said guide flanges spaced apart a distance greater than twice the width of said toy vehicle, and depending flanges for strengthening and stiffening said track section and for defining a receptacle for receiving a track section connector for joining two abutting track sections; and

a track section connector adapted to be received by said receptacle, said connector including projecting lateral flanges for engaging said depending flanges of said track section, and two oppositely disposed alignment flanges connected to said lateral flanges for aligning said guide flanges of said track section.

2. A track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said guide flanges of said track section has an extended end portion formed into a channel shape for receiving the end portion of one of the alignment flanges of said track section connector.

3. A track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said depending flanges of said track section form a portion of a channel shape receptacle extending essentially the length of the track section.

4. A track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said depending flanges of said track section form a portion of at least two channel-shaped receptacles extending essentially the length of said track section.

5. A track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said track section connector includes at least two sets of projecting lateral flanges whereby said lateral flanges join abutting track sections and maintain said support portion substantially aligned from guide flange to guide flange.

6. A track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said depending flanges of said track section form a portion of three channel-shaped receptacles extending essentially the length of said track section.

7. A track'system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said track section connector includes three sets of projecting lateral flanges corresponding to said three channelshaped receptacles.

8. A track system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said track section connector includes a frame portion integrally connecting said three sets of projecting lateral flanges in spaced apart relationship, and integrally connects said alignment flanges.

9. A track section connector for a toy track system comprising:

three sets of laterally extending flanges;

a frame portion integrally attached to said three sets of laterally extending flanges spacing said flanges one from another;

two oppositely disposed alignment flanges integrally connected one at each end of said frame portion; and

lateral flange extensions projecting in a direction parallel to said alignment flanges, said lateral flange extension being integrally connected to one of said three sets of laterally extending flanges,

wherein said set of laterally extending flanges including the integral lateral flange extensions is positioned intermediate said alignment flanges and said other two of said three sets of laterally extending flanges. 

1. A track system for a toy vehicle comprising: at least one track section including a support portion having a surface over which a toy vehicle may move, oppositely disposed guide flanges extending essentially the length of the track section projecting generally upwardly from said surface, said guide flanges spaced apart a distance greater than twice the width of said toy vehicle, and depending flanges for strengthening and stiffening said track section and for defining a receptacle for receiving a track section connector for joining two abutting track sections; and a track section connector adapted to be received by said receptacle, said connector including projecting lateral flanges for engaging said depending flanges of said track section, and two oppositely disposed alignment flanges connected to said lateral flanges for aligning said guide flanges of said track section.
 2. A track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said guide flanges of said track section has an extended end portion formed into a channel shape for receiving the end portion of one of the alignment flanges of said track section connector.
 3. A track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said depending flanges of said track section form a portion of a channel shape receptacle extending essentially the length of the track section.
 4. A track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said depending flanges of said track section form a portion of at least two channel-shaped receptacles extending essentially the length of said track section.
 5. A track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said track section connector includes at least two sets of projecting lateral flanges whereby said lateral flanges join abutting track sections and maintain said support portion substantially aligned from guide flange to guide flange.
 6. A track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said depending flanges of said track section form a portion of three channel-shaped receptacles extending essentially the length of said track section.
 7. A track system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said track section connEctor includes three sets of projecting lateral flanges corresponding to said three channel-shaped receptacles.
 8. A track system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said track section connector includes a frame portion integrally connecting said three sets of projecting lateral flanges in spaced apart relationship, and integrally connects said alignment flanges.
 9. A track section connector for a toy track system comprising: three sets of laterally extending flanges; a frame portion integrally attached to said three sets of laterally extending flanges spacing said flanges one from another; two oppositely disposed alignment flanges integrally connected one at each end of said frame portion; and lateral flange extensions projecting in a direction parallel to said alignment flanges, said lateral flange extension being integrally connected to one of said three sets of laterally extending flanges, wherein said set of laterally extending flanges including the integral lateral flange extensions is positioned intermediate said alignment flanges and said other two of said three sets of laterally extending flanges. 